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Original poster

To remind people NOT to use hot water bottles?

488 replies

Laptopsas · 21/09/2025 22:40

There is another thread running about cold weather and hit water bottles are being recommended as safe. They are not.

Get a heated throw or the microwaveable bags.

If you must use one, don’t use boiling water.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5068468-to-remind-you-all-to-throw-out-old-hot-water-bottles

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5176765-water-bottle-exploded

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kd7k2e48jo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxnez4zxkno

Picture of Sharon Portingale smiling

Hot water bottle warning after woman suffers severe burns

Sharon Portingale woke up with an oozing blister and still has mobility problems, two years on.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kd7k2e48jo

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Jc2001 · 22/09/2025 11:47

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/09/2025 11:43

Also never wear shoe laces in case you accidentally tie them together.

Don't try and make toast while you are in the bath.

Show quote history

Hmm. But bath toast just so tasty. But it s difficult to balance both the toaster and the electric heater on the side of the bath at the same time.

smithsgj · 22/09/2025 12:01

I have only got to page 3 so apologies if this crops up later.

This is how a hit water bottle works: you put it in the bed, to warm the bed up. Before you get into bed, once the bed is warm, you take it out.

You don't get into bed with a hot water bottle any more than you would get in with an electric blanket switched on. Surely?!

Also consider leaving the heating on till later and using a thicker duvet?

Faceonthewrongfoot · 22/09/2025 12:01

ChaToilLeam · 21/09/2025 23:01

Shall we include here a dire warning about the dangers of eating jam tarts straight from the oven? ⚠️

I actually burnt my tongue and hand the other day on a jam tart! (I didn't know they were fresh out of the oven in my defence. Molten jam is very painful!)

Tyler4689 · 22/09/2025 12:02

GasPanic · 22/09/2025 11:46

Maybe there are a few people that hadn't considered some of the risks or didn't know about some of the safety precautions who are now educated.

In fact you can see in the thread that some people didn't know about expiry dates.

If it stops just one person getting badly burnt by scalding water, then probably more worthwhile than a lot of threads.

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Here’s hoping!!!

Bippybop · 22/09/2025 12:02

I never use boiling water in mine and i never fill it to the brim.
Its half full and warm.

CatHairEveryWhereNow · 22/09/2025 12:06

I got older teens electric ones to avoid the water filling stage - plug in and heat up after eldery great aunt sclaed her hand with hot water filling one.

They know to heat the bed with them rather than lie on them.

Suzjspik · 22/09/2025 12:13

Im 44 I use hot water bottles every night in winter, as do my kids. Wheat bags dont stay as warm.

Hundslappadrifa · 22/09/2025 12:13

applegingermint · 22/09/2025 07:24

The advice is to avoid using hot tap water as minerals in the water can prematurely degrade the rubber. You’re meant to use boiled water that’s been allowed to cool.

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That may be, but I’ve been doing it for over 50 years and never had an explosion yet.

Tastaturen · 22/09/2025 12:24

smithsgj · 22/09/2025 12:01

I have only got to page 3 so apologies if this crops up later.

This is how a hit water bottle works: you put it in the bed, to warm the bed up. Before you get into bed, once the bed is warm, you take it out.

You don't get into bed with a hot water bottle any more than you would get in with an electric blanket switched on. Surely?!

Also consider leaving the heating on till later and using a thicker duvet?

If it's really cold my HWB stays at the bottom of the bed.

Foundress · 22/09/2025 12:24

YouMightThinkThat · 21/09/2025 22:50

I think now a perfect moment to remind people to not put their trousers on back to front and to ensure they never put on a roll neck jumper whilst holding a lit cigarette in their mouths.

Brilliant. Please bring back the 😂emoji! Also someone mentioning ‘blanket ban’ made me laugh. Blanket, bed get it ?

AdopttDontShop · 22/09/2025 12:26
You Got This Good Vibes GIF by INTO ACTION

Nanny state alert

Zimunya · 22/09/2025 12:27

FrondsofFriday · 21/09/2025 22:48

I had a wheat bag catch fire once.

I’ve gone back to a HWB. But I do replace it every couple of years and I don’t put boiling water in it. So i’m ok with my life choices but thanks for the PSA.

Yes, our wheat bag caught fire too :(

MissFitss · 22/09/2025 12:33

Why are you posting in the early hours of the morning @Laptopsas
Get some sleep!

Why be here at 3am?

MissFitss · 22/09/2025 12:33

Faceonthewrongfoot · 22/09/2025 12:01

I actually burnt my tongue and hand the other day on a jam tart! (I didn't know they were fresh out of the oven in my defence. Molten jam is very painful!)

Show quote history

Ban homemade jam tarts!

Buxusmortus · 22/09/2025 12:35

smithsgj · 22/09/2025 12:01

I have only got to page 3 so apologies if this crops up later.

This is how a hit water bottle works: you put it in the bed, to warm the bed up. Before you get into bed, once the bed is warm, you take it out.

You don't get into bed with a hot water bottle any more than you would get in with an electric blanket switched on. Surely?!

Also consider leaving the heating on till later and using a thicker duvet?

What?! I've never ever heard of anyone taking the hot water bottle out before they get in the bed and I'm in my sixties. That's what people used to do a hundred years ago with stone ones but not rubber ones with a cover.
When I used them for period pains I'd lie it on my stomach, when it's cold I hug them. Mine came with a fake fur cover, no way is that designed to be taken out of the bed before getting in, it's designed exactly so it's nice to be held.

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/09/2025 12:42

I haven't had a HWB for many years but always had one as a child and cuddled it until I fell asleep. It was a bit grim finding it in the bed later when it had gone cold but we never had an exploding one.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 22/09/2025 12:43

I love my hot water bottles.

Microwave ones are crap.

incognitomouse · 22/09/2025 12:43

You'll have to prize my hot water bottle from my burned blistered hands. I love them. Never had an exploding one yet but I replace them regularly (check the date on them) and never use boiling water. So the fact, I never use boiling water (as it clearly states not to) should mean I won't get burnt. Our tap water is not that hot.

askmenow · 22/09/2025 12:45

YouMightThinkThat · 21/09/2025 22:50

I think now a perfect moment to remind people to not put their trousers on back to front and to ensure they never put on a roll neck jumper whilst holding a lit cigarette in their mouths.

👆😂😂😂

RaininSummer · 22/09/2025 12:51

Unfortunately wheat bags don't get hot enough or stay hot enough to help my arthritis pains in the middle of the night but bottles can be dangerous it's true.

mzpq · 22/09/2025 12:52

LittleLogOut · 22/09/2025 11:28

Survivor bias. Things aren’t 100% like saying no one needs to wear a seat belt as you’ve never been in a crash…..

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Well no not really because I've never used boiling water and never will 😳

Foundress · 22/09/2025 13:00

I love this thread. It’s really only threads like this that keep me on MN. I am also reminded of my sister’s DMIL who took poorly alone during the night. She was so ill she felt unable to get up to fetch a drink of water for herself. She resorted to opening her hot water bottle and drinking some of the water in it. Presumably it wasn’t still boiling hot water.

mzpq · 22/09/2025 13:05

Foundress · 22/09/2025 13:00

I love this thread. It’s really only threads like this that keep me on MN. I am also reminded of my sister’s DMIL who took poorly alone during the night. She was so ill she felt unable to get up to fetch a drink of water for herself. She resorted to opening her hot water bottle and drinking some of the water in it. Presumably it wasn’t still boiling hot water.

She was very lucky she didn't explode after drinking it! 😱

Aerom · 22/09/2025 13:11

Hot water bottles have a date on them. There is a flower on the side or on neck. The number in the middle is the year of manufacture- 23 means 2023. Then around the edge are petals with dots. Dots represent the week of manufacture. So if 4 dots in two petals and two dots in a 3rd, mid March.

You should only use HWBs for two years as the rubber around the stopper rots/shrinks/cracks

Zimunya · 22/09/2025 13:17

Aerom · 22/09/2025 13:11

Hot water bottles have a date on them. There is a flower on the side or on neck. The number in the middle is the year of manufacture- 23 means 2023. Then around the edge are petals with dots. Dots represent the week of manufacture. So if 4 dots in two petals and two dots in a 3rd, mid March.

You should only use HWBs for two years as the rubber around the stopper rots/shrinks/cracks

@Aerom - this is really useful information - thank you so much!

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